Catalog
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| Issuer | The Royal Mint |
|---|---|
| Year | 2018 |
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| Shape | Round |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | The reverse, designed by artist Wuon-Gean Ho, features a dynamic depiction of a dog leaping in full stride across a textured ground rendered in fine stippling, evoking traditional East Asian artistic techniques. A large Chinese character 狗 (Dog) appears prominently to the right of centre against a subtly incuse circular background motif, suggesting a full moon. The legend YEAR OF THE DOG · 2018 arcs along the upper periphery in Roman capitals. A small Royal Mint privy mark appears in the lower right field. The overall composition successfully merges British engraving traditions with Chinese decorative aesthetic sensibilities. |
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| Mint | The Royal Mint |
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| Additional information |
Britain's Lunar series was largely a commercial play targeting the substantial Chinese diaspora market and mainland collectors, with the Royal Mint entering the space well after the Perth Mint had already established dominance. The 2018 Dog year coincided with a broader push by the Mint to expand its bullion and proof collector lines into Asian gift-giving cycles, where Year of the Dog pieces carry particular resonance for buyers born in 1958, 1970, 1982, or 1994.
The .9999 fineness — four nines — was a deliberate step above the traditional British gold standard of .9167, matching the purity benchmark long associated with Canadian Maple Leafs and expected by Asian precious metals buyers.